Despite a valiant effort at a comeback this afternoon, the Athletics lost to the Mariners 7-5. The loss drops them to 95-66 and, with one game remaining, locks up home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the 97-63 Red Sox. The Sox will play the winner of the one-game AL Wild Card playoff, be it the Indians, Rays, or Rangers.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller provided most of the offense, hitting a solo home run in the third inning and a grand slam in the fifth off of A’s starter Jarrod Parker. Trailing 7-2 in the seventh, the Athletics scored three runs on a two-run home run from Brandon Moss and a solo shot from Albert Callaspo, both against Mariners reliever Chance Ruffin. But the rally stopped there and the Mariners held on.

Had the Athletics been able to win today, the Red Sox would have been relying on Jon Lester to pitch them past the Orioles tonight to that clinch home-field advantage.

The Tigers and Athletics will match up in the ALDS, which starts on Friday.